Butter-cutting machine.



B. L. LONGFELLOW & E. 0. ROGERS.

BUTTER CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1914.

1,1 22,960. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Kiwi

' THE NORRIS PETERS co. PHITO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D.

B. L. LONGPELLOW & E. 0. ROGERS. BUTTER CUTTING MAGHINE APPLICATIONFILED FEB. 7. 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914,

3 SHEETS.SHEET 2.

$4 mofiooeoom Tu mum Mi l/274 .07.41.

23%n oao I I I I l I -HE NORRIS PEILK: LU., FHC'TU'L/THONWISHING/Y), D.C,

B. L. LONGFELLOW & E. 0. ROGERS.

BUTTER CUTTING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.'1. 1914.

1,122,960. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8 THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOm-LITHQ. \VASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

BURL L. LONGFELLOW AND ELWOOI) 0. ROGERS, 0F SALINE, MICHIGAN.

BUTTER-CUTTING MACHINE.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,259.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BURL L. LoNorELLoW and ELwooD G. Rooms, citizens ofthe United States of America, and residents of Saline, county ofWVashtenaw, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Butter-Cutting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to cutting machines for plastic substances andmore particularly toa machine for cutting butter, oleomargerin, and thelike.

The principal object of this invention is to construct a machine forcutting butter and like substances into bricks of exactly the samedimensions and weight, since it has been found that in many machines ofthis class now on the market subsequent weighing and patching orscraping is necessary in order to maintain uniformity in the weights ofthe bricks cut.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel receptacle forthe butter or other material in which the material may be packed. andset away in a refrigerating room to harden. The receptacle has a bottomslidable therein and is designed so. that it may be mounted on the frameof the machine in such a position that the movable bottom may be liftedby suitable mechanism to extrude the butter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cutter frame forcutting the material vertically as it is extruded from the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for pressingor extruding the material from the open end of the receptacle and formaintaining the extruding device in any particular position.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a suitable transverselymovable cutting wire which is adjustable to vary the thickness of thebricks cut.

Another object of the invention is to provide shelving to catch scrapsof butter dropping from the edge of the cutter frame.

The above and other objects and the novel features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description taken in connection with thedrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of the machine; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine;Fig. 4: is a cross sectional view taken along the line H looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 5is a detailed view of a section of thecutter frame showing the manner of attaching it to the butter receptacleand also the manner of lookng the shelves to the cutter frame; Fig. 6 sa transverse cross sectional view of the transversely movable cuttingdevice; Fig. 7 s a detailed sectional view of the same taken along theline 7-7 of Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one end of thetransversely movable butter cutting device; Fig. 9 is a plan view; Fig.10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one of the links comprisingthe lifting device; Fig. 11 is a plan View, Fig. 12 is an elevation ofone of the cam devices for securing the butter receptacle tot-he tableof the machine and for securing the cutter frame to the butterreceptacle, and Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a detail 01111116 13-18of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises generally a table uponwhich the butter receptacle may he set and secured. T16 butterreceptacle is adapted to support at its upper end a cutter frame whichis provided with cross-wires for cutting the butter vertically as it ispressed from the frame by a plunger mounted on the table and enteringthe receptacle at the bottom thereof. A bracket rising at the rear ofthe machine from thetable pivotally supports the cutter frame whichdivides the material vertically and also supports a transversely movablecutting device by means of which the material may be cut horizontally.Shelving detachably secured to the cutter frame onthe butter receptacleand surrounding'the latter at its upper end serves to catch and save anyscraps which may fall when the butter is cut transversely.

The supporting frame of the machine comprises the four legs designatedby the numeral 15 which are connected near their lower ends by braces 16and are joined at their upper ends by the plates 17, thereby formingaframe which is open at the top. Fitting onto the upper end of the frameof the machine is a table 18 which engages over the upper edges of thelegs 15 and plates 17. The table 18 is depressed within its margins asshown in Fig. 2 having a dishshaped portion 19, and a hollow boss 20 atthe center of the dish-shaped portion 19.

On the. exterior of the hollow boss and at one side of the'same there isa depending bracket 21 which supports the operating mechanism for aplunger comprising a stem or rod 22 having the four curved arms 23 atits upper end. The arms 23 are curved so as to fit within the recessedportion 19 of the table and have vertically extending ends 24: with fiatupper faces to engage the underside of a movable or false bottom 25 of abutter receptacle'26 which is adapted to be supported on the top of thetable 18. At its lower edge, the receptacle 26 has a flange 27, and twoeccentric locking devices 28 at each of the edges of the table 18 areadapted to clamp over the flange 27 to secure the receptacle 26 in placeon the table 18.

The receptacle 26 is preferably cast of aluminum and provided withvertically and horizontally extending strengthening ribs 28 and handles29 on its outer surface. The aluminum box will not rust or warp out ofshape and may be kept perfectly sanitary and will be very easily cleanedand is strong and durable. However, the box may be made of othersuitable material such as cypress wood which is less expensive thanaluminum and satisfactory in some machines. The metal boxes arepreferable, however, as they will remain in perfect shape indefinitelyand will not Warp or become distorted and make uneven bricks. The boxherein shown is rounded at the corners and well reinforced to preventany distortion of the same and Wlll therefore always be of exactly thesame shape as the steel cutter frame 30 which it supports and throughwhich the butter is extruded from the box.

The cutter frame 30 comprises a cast rectangular steel framehavingsubstantially the same interior'dimensions as the exterior of the box 26. Extending along the laterally exterior edges of the frame 30 is agroove 31 which has the upper wall 32 and the lower wall 33 drilled atintervals to receive the spindles or supports 34: of rollers 35, uponwhich the cutter wire is strung. The wall 36 comprising the bottom ofthe groove has an opening 37 extending therethrough adjacent each roller35 so that the cutter wire may pass therethrough. One end of the cutterwire is secured to a tension post 38 and the wire is then passed acrossand back in the same direction on the frame and around the rollers 3d oftwo opposite edges to form the cutting wires extending in one direction.The wire is then strung transversely at right angles to the formerlengths so that the butter pressed therethrough will be divided intorectangular portions, and the other end is finally brought to a tensionpost 39. By applying or letting off tension at the posts 38 or 39, thewire comprising thevertical cutting means may be kept at slices orscraps of butter will be left along the lateral edges as the butter ispressed from the receptacle 26, due to the spaces to between the saidwires and the edges of the frame. faces of the butter cutting frame willnot provide sufficiently accurate cutting surfaces for the bricks at theedges and therefore in order to have each brick of exactly the properweight, the lateral faces of the frame are not used for the purpose ofcutting the butter but instead wires are used for this purposealtogether. In order to catch the scraps resulting from this arrangementof the cutting wires, we provide shelving which surrounds the cutterframe on all sides. The shelving consists of three detachable shelves 41supported at the rear and on opposite sides of the frame 30 and adetachable packing shelf 42 supported from the front of the frame. Theattached edges of the shelves 41 and 42 are provided with supportinghooks 43, the upper ends of which engage in recesses l4 in the upperwall 32 of the frame 30 and the lower edges of the hooks 43 abut againstthe top surface of the lower wall 33. The'attached edges of the shelvesalso abut against the outer edge of the frame and are therebysufliciently braced so that they will be able to support a moderateload. The frame 30 is also provided with pivoted cam locking clevices 28which are shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12, and similar to those whichengage the receptacle at the bottom. The locking devices on'the frame 30engage a flange 45 at the upper end of the receptacle 26, whereby theframe may be rigidly and detachably secured to the butter receptacle 26.I p

The cutter frame has a rearwardly extending lug -l6 which has an openingtherethrough to pivot the cutter on a vertical spindle 47 fitting in asocket 48 at the upper end of a standard 49 fitting in a bracket L91secured to a cross plate 17 of the frame at the rear of the machine. A.set screw 50 is provided to adjust the spindle 47 and prevent the samefrom turning. By this arrangement, the cutter frame when desired may beraised and swung laterally out of the way which provides a sanitarymanner of disposing of the frame 30 while changing butter receptacles.There will thus be It has been found that the inner quent adjustment ofthe same will not be necessary. The rear shelf supported by the cutterframe 30 is recessed to take the standard so that the latter will notinterfere.

strung on frame 80, is of tempered German silver and is stretched acrossthe lower side of the frame 51 and a sufficient space 54 between thecutter wire 52 and the inner surface 55 of the frame is left whereby agage is provided so that the proper thickness of butter to form thedesired weight of brick will be cut by the Wire 52. The wire 52 ismovable with the frame 51 transversely of the cutter frame 30 and aroundthe pivot 17. A pair of slidable members 56, 57 sliding vertically indove-tail grooves 561 and 571 at the outer sides of the end walls 562and 572 respectively carry tension bolts 58 to which the wire 52 issecured and by means of which it may be maintained at a uniform tension.The walls 562 and 572 have holes 521 extending therethrough at intervalsto receive the wire 52 at its several adjusted positions. The slides 56,57 are vertically adjustable by means of the bolts 59, the threaded endsof which engage a threaded hole in the upper walls of the slides. By thearrangement described, the wire 52 is kept at a proper tension. Thedetails of the adjustment at the outer or free end of the frame is shownin detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

The lifting mechanism for raising the bottom 25 and keeping it in apredetermined position comprises a hand lever 60 having a forked end 601pivoted at 61 on the lower end of the bracket 21. The lever 60 is bentso that the forked end thereof will be offset and the handle 62 of thesame will extend to the right of and below the shelf 42. The parts ofthe forked end of the lever pass on opposite sides of the plunger stem22 and have links 63 pivoted at their outer ends. The link 63 is pivotedto a release dog 64, the inner pivoted end of which extends into arecess 65 in a lifting link 66 which is shown in detail in Figs. 9 and10. As shown, the stem 22 of the plunger passes through the opening 67in the lifting link and teeth 68, 69 at opposite sides of the opening 67serve to engage the faces of the stem 22 and bind the same when thelever 60 is operated.

The free end of the link 66 normally rests in and fulcrums in a notch 70at the inner face of the bracket 21. A load or supporting link 71,similar to the lifting link 66, is pivoted at 72 above the notch 70 andon the inner side of the bracket 21. The other end of the link 71, isfree and the teeth on the inner side thereof will grip the stem 22 ofthe plunger and act as a clutch to support the plunger and bottom 25 inany desired position. The free end of the link 71 may be lifted by theengagement of the projection 73 of the dog therewith. A spring 74 havingits ends secured to the dog and to the frame, tends to withdraw the dog64- and projection 73 from beneath the end of the link 71 to release thelatter so that it may be free to clutch the stem 22. To operate the dog64 so that the end 7 3 thereof will raise the free end of the link 71and cause the release of the plunger, a grip 75 is pivoted adjacent thehandle 62 and is connected by the rod 76 to the dog 64. The spring 7 1normally holds the dog in disengagement.

The plunger may be raised by depressing the outer end of the lever 60,and at any desired position the load or supporting link 71 will act as aclutch and hold the plunger and the bottom 25 in a position so that thebutter which has been forced out at the upper end of the frame 30 can becut off by swinging the frame 51 transversely.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the operation of thedevice will be apparent. Butter taken from the churn is packed in thealuminum boX or receptacle 26, which with the loose bottom in place isset in a cooling room for a few hours and allowed to harden. Vhen thebutter has solidified the box is placed on and secured to the table onthe frameof the machine. The horizontal cutting frame 30 is then swungin place and fastened onto the top of the box, the cutter frame 51 beingswung back out of the way. By moving the lifting lever 60 up and down,the plunger raises the loose bottom 25 and forces the contents of thebox through the series of cross-wires in the frame 30. Vhen a suiiicientamount of butter has been forced out of the box to engage the underside55 of the frame 51, the horizontal cutting wire 52 is brought around anddrawn across the upper face of the cutter frame cutting inthe presentinstance fifteen bricks of butter ready to be wrapped. The scraps alongthe sides are caught by the shelving and may be repacked in anotherreceptacle. The cutting wires used are made of non-corrodible metal suchas tempered silver or German silver. By adjusting the wire 52, the sizeof the brick may be varied. The construction of the machine makes itvery simple to cut the butter into bricks of exactly the same dimensionsand weight, requiring no patching or scraping off by the operator. Onaccount of more recent weight regulations, it is necessary to market thebutter in bricks weighing exactly the amount indicated and in manycutting machines now on the market a subsequent weighing of each brickis necessary. The machine constructed according to this invention isaccurate to a high degree and requires no subsequent I weighing of thebricks cut thereby.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the eXactdetails shown and described as numerous modifications are possiblewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, an open ended removable receptacle mounted thereon andconstituting the container in which the material is packed, a movablebottom for said receptacle and removable with the receptacle, a plungercarried by the frame and arranged to lift the said bottom, means foroperating the plunger, a stationary cutter frame, and a laterallyrockable cutter device above the stationary cutting frame.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a movableopen ended receptacle constituting the container in which the materialis originally packed, a loose bottom for said receptacle, means forraising said bottom and the material in said receptacle comprising aplunger engaging the under side of said bottom, a device for raisingsaid plunger, a clutch for maintaining said plunger in any desiredposition, means for releasing said clutch, means for cutting thematerial vertically as it is extruded from the receptacle by theoperation of said plunger, and a horizontally movable cutting de vicedisposed above the before mentioned cutting means, and shelving disposedabout a plurality of sides of the upper end of the receptacle.

3. In a cutting machine of the class described, the combination of amainsupporting frame, a receptacle for the material open at one end andhaving a bottom loosely fitting the other end, said receptacle andbottom comprising the container in which the material is packed andtransported to the machine, means forsecuring the receptacle to the mainframe, a cutter frame comprising crossed wires supported at the open endof the receptacle, means for securing the cutter frame to thereceptacle, shelving surrounding the cutter frame on all sides, and ahorizontally movable cutting device mounted above the cutter frame.

'4. In a butter cutting machine, the combination of a main supportingframe, a standard mounted thereon, a plunger carried by the main frame,a butter receptacle open at the upper end and having a false bottomfitting the lower end, said receptacle and bottom constituting thecontainer in which the butter is packed and transported to the machine,said false bottom resting on the plunger and adapted to be raised by thelatter, means for operating the said plunger, a cutter frame secured tothe open end of said receptacle and comprising crossed wires, shelvingsurrounding the cutter frame, a horizontally movable cutting wire, and aframe pivoted to said standard and carrying said horizontally movablecutting wire.

5. In a butter cutting machine, the combination with a main supportingframe havinga table provided with a central opening therein and-abracket adjacent said opening. a removable butter receptacle adapted tobe secured to said table and having a false bottom and being open at thetop, means for raising said false bottom and the material in thereceptacle comprising a plunger, the head of which engages the underside of the false bottom and the shank of which passes down through theopening in the table, an operating lever pivoted to said bracket, aclutch link pivoted to said bracket, a lifting link pivotally connectedto said operating lever, a releasing dog pivoted to the operating lever,means tending to hold the releasing dog out of connection with theclutch link, and means for operating said releasing dog to release theclutch link, a cutter frame supported at the upper open end ofsaidreceptacle, said cutter frame comprising a rectangular member havingcross wires supported thereon to form rectangular interstices to cut thematerial vertically, a standard on the main frame, a cross cutting framepivoted on said standard, and an adjustable cutting wire on said crosscutter frame.

6. In a machine of the class described, a cutting device comprising aframe having recesses in its lateral edges, rollers sup ported in saidrecesses, a single length of wire supporting on said frame and passingaround said rollers and having parts extending across each other withinthe frame, and means on said frame for tensioning the wire.

7. In a machine of the class described, a cutting device comprising arectangular frame having a channel in its outer edge, rollers disposedin and at intervals along said channel, a single length of wiresupporting on said frame and passing around the rollers so that partsthereof will extend across each other within the frame, and tensioningmeans on the frame to which the ends of the wire are secured.

S. In a machine of the class described, a cutting device comprising aframe, wires crossing each other within the frame and attached to thelateral edges of the latter, shelves, and means on said shelvesinterlocking with means along the edges of said frame to detachablysecure the shelves to frame, a receptacle adapted to be set in place 7on said frame and secured thereto, a cutter frame detachably secured tosaid receptacle and having cross-wires, a transversely movable cuttingdevice, and shelves disposed about the upper end of said cutter frame.

10. In a cutting machine, the combination of a supporting frame having abracket, a cutter frame pivoted on the bracket and having cross-wires,and a transversely movable cutting device pivoted on the bracket abovesaid cutter frame.

11. In a butter cutting machine, the combination of a supporting framehaving a bracket, a receptacle adapted to be detachably secured to theframe, a cutter frame pivoted on the bracket and adapted to bedetachably secured to the upper end of the receptacle, a transverselymovable cutter pivoted on the bracket above said cutter frame, and meansdisposed about the cutter frame to catch scraps of butter.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with extrudingmeans, of a receptacle for the material to be extruded and divided, saidreceptacle being constructed to be set in place on the frame of themachine and having a bottom engageable by said extruding means andmovable toward the interior of the receptacle whereby it is unnecessaryto remove the bottom from the receptacle to extrude the materialtherefrom in the operation of dividing said material.

13. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a frame, a receptacle constituting the container inwhich the material is packed and transported to the machine, means fordetachably securing the re ceptacle in place on the frame, means forforcing the material from said receptacle comprising a plunger, a clutchfor maintaining said plunger in any desired position of its travel,means for releasing said clutch, means for cutting the materialvertically as it is forced from the receptacle, and means disposed abovesaid cutting means for cutting the material horizontally.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, areceptacle, means for detachably securing the receptacle in place on theframe, means for forcing the material from said receptacle, a bracket onsaid frame, a cutter frame pivoted on said bracket and equipped withmeans for cutting the material vertically as it is forced from saidreceptacle, means for securing said cutter frame in place on saidreceptacle, and a horizontally movable device piv-v oted on the bracketabove the cutter frame and adapted to cut the material horizontally.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

BURL L. LONGFELLOW. ELVVOOD C. ROGERS. \Vitnesses C. A. CURTISS, L. E.FAIRBANKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

